Alabama State University Celebrates Chinese New Year

By:Alexis Butler

Alabama State University’s Office of Diversity and International Affairs in collaboration with Troy University’s Confucius Institute celebrated the Chinese New Year with students on Friday, Jan. 17 in the Cyber Lounge of John Garrick Hardy Student Center.

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a week-long commemoration typically celebrated with family and friends, similar to a traditional American Christmas and New Year holiday. Each year is represented by a different animal in the Chinese zodiac. 2020 is considered the year of the rat, which is thought to bring luck representing diligence, kindness, and generosity.

Students enjoyed Asian cuisine, had the opportunity to have their names printed in Chinese, took part in Chinese inspired arts and crafts, discovered their animal zodiac year, and even tried on Chinese garments.

“We wanted to expose our students to the culture, the process and the meaning and the whole idea of the Chinese New Year and what it means,” said Deborah Jones, administrative secretary in the Department of Diversity and International Affairs.

The university’s international students Sung Hyun Kim and Derrick Muraya attended the event and said they had an awesome experience.

“It’s pretty unique to experience this at Alabama State,” said Kim, a junior Presidential scholar from Korea. “I like Korean music, which is a part of my culture. There are a lot of international students at ASU that make up the minority here. I am glad that other students were able to take part in experiencing the Chinese culture.”

Maraya, also a  junior presidential scholar, from Kenya said, “I don’t really know a lot about the Chinese culture so I’m really enjoying being here and learning.”